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Terreson Profile
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By the Sea


By the Sea

I can hear her crying
in the wind tonight,
quietly crying in
her marsh home by the sea.
She thinks that no one
can hear her tonight,
she keeps on crying,
cannot sleep.

I had seen her going
by the sea today,
slowly going
while the sun started to set
beneath her shoulders.
She must have thought
she was alone with the water,
as she turned the faces
she keeps for others,
turned them under.

There was that much loveliness
in the face she gave today,
alone and rising and
spilling over the sand.
And I had to turn
behind the dunes,
or drown inside the tide
made by her open face.

But there was also a sign,
a shivering signal,
in the evening sea sky's
falling blue.
It was a sign to start
love's heart to hurt,
with her autumn eyes
she must have seen it too.

Then the chill in the wind,
what fused sky's rim.
If only I could see
the summer star shine
in her eyes once more.

Terreson

Last edited by Terreson, Jul/17/2010, 5:21 pm
May/8/2010, 6:26 pm Link to this post Send Email to Terreson   Send PM to Terreson
 
sambyfield Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Hi Tere

lovely, sad poem this- sustains an entirely consistent and believable tone. I instinctively think this is inspired by the oil spill, though i could be wrong- the poem remains elusive, which is a good thing.

'There was that much loveliness
in the face she gave today,'
reminds strongly of something of yours i've read before.

'what fused sky's rim.'
is 'what' a typo? perhaps 'That.'

much enjoyed
May/9/2010, 6:16 am Link to this post Send Email to sambyfield   Send PM to sambyfield
 
Terreson Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Good to see you, Sam. You're close. Poem written in '86 or '87. But I've been much preoccupied with the spill. Remembered the poem last night. Realized it captions the immense sadness of it all. Thanks for your comments. Now let me read the new poems you've posted.

Tere
May/9/2010, 12:16 pm Link to this post Send Email to Terreson   Send PM to Terreson
 
deepwaters Profile
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Re: By the Sea


what a great piece, Tere. as I read it, the sounds and the line breaks remind me of being on a gentle sea, bopping softly. the sadness adds to this feeling. finally, there are these images that (to my humble ear) sound distinctly yours...

while the sun started to set
beneath her shoulders.
.
.
There was that much loveliness
in the face she gave today,
.
.
It was a sign to start
the love's heart to hurt,
with her autumn eyes
she must have seen it too.


thanks for the lovely read.
-shab

Jul/15/2010, 10:27 am Link to this post Send Email to deepwaters   Send PM to deepwaters
 
Terreson Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Thank you for commenting, Shabfriend. Thank you very much. As mentioned the poem is a good 24 years old. I always hesitate in bringing out the stuff written sometime between the First and Second Punic Wars, so to speak. I was a different poet then. Less complicated, less layered, less nuanced, maybe less contrary. But also maybe more proceeding by the gut.

A few weeks ago I sent the poem to the online thing called Poets For Living Waters, which is a response to both Katrina and the Gulf spill. I felt, still feel, it highlights the emotional response to the losses sustained on the Gulf. But then I read the ezine and frankly I was disgusted by the chacanary and the ambulance chasing by poets looking to cash in on the Gulf disasters. Injudiciously I said as much on the site's Facebook wall. Probably earned for myself a few more poetry world enemies. Anyway I withdrew my submissions.

Still I think I am right. Not a fisherman or fisherwoman, not an oyster catcher, or shrimper who would not get the poem on a gut level.

Tere
Jul/15/2010, 6:41 pm Link to this post Send Email to Terreson   Send PM to Terreson
 
libramoon Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Tere, I hope you don't mind. Somethings about this lovely poem bothered me, kept it from having full impact for me. Here is my tightened version, if you like. If not, ignore.

Peace,
Laurie


By the Sea

I hear her crying
in the wind tonight,
quietly crying in
her marsh home by the sea.
She thinks no one
can hear her tonight,
she keeps crying,
cannot sleep.

I had seen her shining
by the sea today,
slowly sighing
while the sun moved to set
beneath her shoulders.
She must have thought
she was alone with the water,
as she turned the faces
she keeps for others,
 turned them under.

There was that much loveliness
in the face she gave today,
alone and rising and
spilling over the sand.
 I had to turn
behind the dunes,
or drown inside the tide
made by her open face.

But there was also a sign,
a shivering signal,
in the evening sea sky's
falling blue.
It was a sign to start
 love's heart to hurt.
With her autumn eyes,
she must have seen it too.

Then the chill in the wind,
what fused sky's rim to shore.
If I only could see
that summer star shine
in her eyes once more.
Jul/16/2010, 4:21 pm Link to this post Send Email to libramoon   Send PM to libramoon Blog
 
Terreson Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Laurie, I guess I'm a little blown away. I get what you've gone after, shaken down. Not often I say this, but in the main I think you're right. You may have just brought about the final revision on this old poem. Thank you.

Tere
Jul/16/2010, 5:05 pm Link to this post Send Email to Terreson   Send PM to Terreson
 
pjouissance Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Hi, Tere,

What I find most interesting about this twilit poem with its longing and sadness, is the identity of She. I thought at first She was water, but no. She's not the marsh, she's not a bird - she has shoulders. She's a woman, but a spirit-woman, is what I finally thought. The spirit of the bayou...

Much enjoyed this gentle poem,

Auto
Jul/16/2010, 6:29 pm Link to this post Send Email to pjouissance   Send PM to pjouissance
 
Terreson Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Kind of humbling when poem's intention and motive come through. Yes, Auto.

Tere
Jul/16/2010, 7:11 pm Link to this post Send Email to Terreson   Send PM to Terreson
 
Katlin Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Hi Tere,

I remember reading and enjoying this poem in the past, but now, in the new normal, it has even more resonance for me. I hope you find a place to publish it in this post oil spill world.

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Winston Churchill, and more recently James Carville

Thanks to Shab for bumping this one up.

Last edited by Katlin, Jul/17/2010, 8:45 pm
Jul/17/2010, 8:44 pm Link to this post Send Email to Katlin   Send PM to Katlin
 
Terreson Profile
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Re: By the Sea


Thanks, Kat. As I said last May the spill brought the old thing to mind. I had an exchange recently with someone involved in the recovery effort. He is an expert in oyster raising and oyster bed health. He was asked by someone if the marshes and deltas would recover. He said they would. I spoke up and reminded him that ecologists generally agree that the marshes will come back but that they will have to die first. Pretty big caveat. Still can't shake it all. I don't know of any way other than with a simple lyric to comprehend what you and others keep calling the new normal.

Tere
Jul/18/2010, 12:17 pm Link to this post Send Email to Terreson   Send PM to Terreson
 


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